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Pawtuckaway State Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 2,275 Google reviews · Running trail in Nottingham, New Hampshire · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Pawtuckaway State Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Large park featuring lake swimming, scenic boulders, climbing, diverse wildlife & winter sports.
What runners say about Pawtuckaway State Park
“I went for a simple hike and ended up exploring boulder fields, quiet forests, and a beautiful lake that looked amazing in the afternoon light.”
“I went for a simple hike and ended up exploring boulder fields, quiet forests, and a beautiful lake that looked amazing in the afternoon light.”
Amazing park where you can hike, camp, swim, or boat. Swim: a nice sandy beach surrounded by pine trees. A dozen benches and grills in the shade of the forest. Swim area with maximum water depth of ~7 feet. Floats, tubes, snorkels, etc are allowed. No lifeguard on duty.
Very cool state park. It has a beach area, great campsites, and cabins. Also lots of hiking trails. We were just scouting the area for a future stay so I can't comment on the trails as we didn't walk them.
Very nice state park near the NH/ME border. We were here in the off-season and tent camped one night. The sites are far enough apart to offer a little privacy, they each have a picnic table, and a fire ring. Where we were the bathroom/showers were newly renovated and very nice.
My girlfriend and I decided to go up on a Sunday arriving at approximately 11 AM. The beach was relatively packed with groups of people of all kinds and ages. The atmosphere was quite relaxing, drama free and peaceful.
Trail conditions & character
“I went for a simple hike and ended up exploring boulder fields, quiet forests, and a beautiful lake that looked amazing in the afternoon light.”
“I went for a simple hike and ended up exploring boulder fields, quiet forests, and a beautiful lake that looked amazing in the afternoon light.”
“Our spot had a beautiful view of the lake the bathrooms were clean and not too far away .”
“Prepare to pay a $5 fee/per person for parking and use of this large woody park .”
“it was rocky, steep and only foot-trodden .”
Plan your run at Pawtuckaway State Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websitenhstateparks.org
- Phone(603) 895-3031
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 8 AM–7 PM |
| Tuesday | 8 AM–7 PM |
| Wednesday | 8 AM–7 PM |
| Thursday | 8 AM–7 PM |
| Friday | 8 AM–7 PM |
| Saturday | 8 AM–7 PM |
| Sunday | 8 AM–7 PM |
Running trails near Nottingham
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Flint Hill Town Conservation Area
4.2 ★★★★☆ 10 reviews
Lyman Memorial Park (Raymond Town Common)
5 ★★★★★ 3 reviews
Folsom Conservation Area
4.6 ★★★★★ 48 reviews
Nature preserve offering kid-friendly hiking trails that are bounded on all sides.